Aerosol metering valve construction



Nov. 24, 1964 Filed June 8, 1962 AEROSOL METERING VALVE CONSTRUCTION 2Sheets-Sheet l S F g 1 60 E I L U I 5 as 2 I 50 52 48 I E lg? 18 I 54 5642 INVENTOR. v ge bQr c G. Lehmann Nov. 24, 1964 H. G. LEHMANN AEROSOLMETERING VALVE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1962INVENTOR. Her bert C) Lehmann United States Patent 3,158,179 AEROSOLNETERING VALVE CQNSTRUCTION Herbert G. Lehmann, Easton, Conn, assignorto Valve Corporation of America, Bridgeport, Conn., 21 corporation ofDelaware Filed June 8, 1962, Ser. No. 201,088 '14 Claims. (Cl. 137-6275)This invention relates to small hand-held aerosol devices, and moreparticularly to metering valve constructions for the same.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved meteringvalve construction of the type Wherein there is a longitudinally movablevalve stem in a metering or measuring chamber of a valve housing, whichconstruction is characterized by a seal elfected by the depress buttonnormally removably carried by the valve stem, such seal completing anormally discontinuous discharge channel, and the valve constructionfurther being so constituted that it may be especially devoid ofexpansion chambers or the equivalent to receive the discharge from themetering chamber, yet providing a satisfactory spray discharge of thepressurized aerosol substance, this latter being possible by virtue ofthe use of a relatively long discharge channel of substantially uniformcross sectional area.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved meteringvalve construction as above set forth, wherein there is eliminated theprior known relatively costly-to-make hollow or tubular stem structuresand instead the stem has simple outer formations such as a groove orribs with the depress button carried thereby, to provide the dischargechannel of uniform cross sectional area and which is devoid of anyexpansion chamber.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel metering valveconstruction in accordance with the foregoing, wherein a simple andeffective partiallycontinuing seal is provided by, and renderedoperative upon actuation of, the depress button to make continuous thedischarge channel which normally has separated, unconnected or openportions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved meteringvalve construction with longitudinally movable valve stem, wherein thelower, valve-carrying extremity of the stem has a novel resilient guideportion coacting with a resilient valve seat to provide a desirable softor smooth yet effective valve action.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improvedmetering valve construction having the above characteristics and whichis nevertheless simple in structure, involving few components which maybe readily economically fabricated and assembled, to the end that thedevice is of lower cost while retaining reliability of operation and along useful life.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters ofreference are used to disignate like components throughout the severalviews, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an axial, longitudinal sectional view of a valveconstruction and aerosol container, 'as provided by the invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing the valveconstruction in the operative or discharge position.

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view of a valve construction made inaccordance with the invention, illustrating another embodiment thereof.

5-5 of FIG. 4.

3,158,179 Patented Nov. 24, 1964 FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar tothat of FIG. 4, but showing the valve construction in the operative ordischarging position.

FIG. 7 is an axial sectional view of a metering valve constructionconstituting yet another embodiment of the invention.

Considering first FIG. 1, the valve construction illustrated therein isshown as mounted on a pressurized container 10 having a circular metalclosure portion or mounting cup 12 attached to the container by theusual curled or beaded peripheral portions designated generally by thenumeral 14. A removable cover 16 is customarily provided for suchaerosol device.

The mounting cup 12 has a central raised hollow part 18 having aninwardly spun ring-like portion 20 by which there is secured in place amolded valve housing 22. Depending from the lower portion of the valvehousing 22 is the usual dip tube 24.

The valve housing 22 has a metering chamber 26 in which there islongitudinally or vertically movable a novel valve stem constructiondesignated generally by the numeral 28. At the lower end of the meteringchamber 26 there is an annular resilient valve seat 30 which coacts withthe lower valve-carrying portion of the stem 28 to provide a shut-offbetween the metering chamber 26 and the interior of the container 10.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel organization isprovided comprising the valve stem 28 and an annular valve or sealingelement designated generally by the numeral 34 in conjunction with adepress button and orifice member 36 by which a desirable fine meteredor measured spray discharge of the aerosol substance carried by thecontainer 10 is had in response to downward movement of the depressbutton 36, said action being further characterized by a desirable softor smooth action of the valve stem and button.

Normally the valve stem 28 is held in the raised position shown in FIG.1 by the valve return spring 38 bearing against the shoulder formed bythe valve seat 30, and against an annular valve shoulder 40 provided onthe valve stem 28.

As provided by the invention, the lower extremity or tip portion of thevalve stem 23 has a diametric slot 42 resulting in a pair of slendertines 44 which are normally disposed within the annular valve seat 30and which provide a degree of resiliency to the said lower tip portion.Further, the slot 42 in conjunction with the valve seat 30 provides asmooth valving action. As seen in FIG. 1, aerosol substance may ascendin the dip tube 24 and pass through the upper portion of the slot 42into the metering chamber 26. However, when the depress button 36 andthe valve stem 34 are in the depressed or discharging position shown inFIG. 3, the solid portion of the stem 28 which is immediately above theslot 42 is disposed in the valve seat 3t), thereby closing the same andshutting oh the contents of the container 10 from the metering chamber26.

By virtue of the slotted lower tip portion of the valve stem 28 a smoothor soft action or movement of the valve stem is had, since oppositelydisposed rounded outer surfaces of the stem are always in contact withthe valve seat 30 and provide an elfective guide means for the stem.

Further, in accordance with the invention, the central raised portion 18of the mounting cup 12 has an upwardly drifted or formed edge 48surrounding the central aperture thereof, and the sealing element 34 isconstructed in a novel manner whereby it provides a double sealing orvalve action. That is, there is effected closure of the bore of theelement 34 in conjunction with the shoulder enlargement 40 of the stemon the onehand, and eflected a connection with a central hollowsupporting portion 50 of the depress button 36 on the other hand. Inaccomplishing this, the sealing or valve element 34 is constituted tohave a tubular or sleeve portion 52 and a lower outwardly radiallyextending flange portion 54. The flange portion 54 is clamped betweenthe top wall of the central raised portion 18 of the mounting cup 12 andthe upper rim portion 56 of the valve housing 22. The inner peripheralportion of the flange 54 (or the lower edge portion of the sleeve 52) iscooperable with the valve shoulder 40 of the stem 28 to effect a seal asindicated on FIG. 1 or else to open the passage through the sealingelement 34 in response to downward movement of the valve stem 28, thislatter opening being accomplished by a pair of longitudinally extending,oppositely disposed grooves 69 located in the upper portion of the valvestem 28.

As clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the depress button 36 has a dischargechannel 62 and a discharge orifice member 64, communicating with thebore of the hollow mounting portion 50. The said mounting portionfrictionally receives the upper end of the valve stem 28, sucharrangement efiecting a mounting of the button 36 on the valve stem.

By the invention, the combined cross sectional areas of the two groove60 constituting part of the discharge channel, is substantially equal tothe cross sectional area of the discharge channel 62 in the depressbutton 36, whereby there is eliminated any enlargements of the channelwhich might function as an expansion chamber. I have found that suchexpansion chamber is not essential to the producing of a satisfactoryspray discharge of a pressurized aerosol substance, especially where thedischarge channel has an overall effective length of appreciablemagnitude, as in the present instance.

It will be observed from an inspection of FIG. 3 that when the depressbutton 36 and the valve stem 28 are in the lowered or operative,discharge position, the bottom rim 68 of the hollow support portion 50of the button 36 is in engagement with the upper rim 70 of the sealingelement 34, squeezing and thickening the sleeve portion 52. Inconsequence, leakage of the aerosol substance out of the grooves 69 andpast these edges is prevented, and instead a continuous dischargechannel is provided, constituted of the channel portion 62 on the onehand and the two longitudinal grooves 60 on the other hand, these latterbeing closed by the hollow support portion 50 and by the sleeve portion52 of the button and sealing elements respectively.

Considering FIG. 3, when the valve stem 28 and button 36 are in thedepressed or lower position, a sequential valving action has occurred,and the charge of aerosol substance in the metering chamber 26 may bedischarged through the grooves 60 and the discharge channel 62, while atthe same time the metering chamber 26 is closed off or sealed from thecontents of the container 18 by the solid lower portion of the valvestem 28 which is disposed in the valve seat 30. Such closing of themetering chamber 26 or sealing of the same from the contents or interiorof the container is effected prior to opening of the main or upper valvecomprising the sealing element 34 and grooved stem portion inasmuch asthe valve stem 28 must move downward an appreciable distance before thelower ends of the grooves 69 are shifted past the bottom of the sleeveportion 52 of the sealing element 34. Prior to this, no discharge cantake place from the metering chamber. However, when discharge does takeplace, the lower valve comprising the seat 30 and the solid portion ofthe stem 2% will have closed.

The general metering action as above described is in many respectssimilar to that already understood in the art.

After the lower rim or edge 68 of the supporting portion 50 engages theupper rim 70 of the sealing element 34-, a continued downward movementof the button 36 and valve stem 28 takes place, squeezing the sleeve 52and compressing it, before the lower ends of the grooves 60 clear thebottom face of the flange 54. In consequence, there is a sequentialvalving relationship whereby the discharge channel is closed prior toopening of the valve constituted by the solid portion 29 of the stem andthe flange portion 54 of the sealing element 34.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.In this embodiment, components which are similar to those alreadydescribed have been given like characters.

The main differences between the embodiments of FIGS. 1-3 and that ofFIGS. 4-6 resides in the construction of the upper portion of the valvestem, which stem has been labelled 28a in FIGS. 4 and 6. Also, thesealeffecting button construction is somewhat different, as well as theconstruction of the upper sealing element.

As shown, the said upper sealing element comprises a rubber or resilientvalve washer 76 over which there is disposed a thin rigid or stiffwasher 78 (made of metal, fiber, rigid plastic, etc.). Over the rigidwasher 78 there is'a thick second rubber or rubber-like resilient washer80. The valve stem 28a has a shouldered valve portion 4134: which iscooperable with the valve disk 78 to effect a seal or closure of themetering chamber 26. The portion of the valve stem 28a which is locatedabove the valve shoulder 40a is ribbed and has two difierent diameters,a larger diameter portion 82 immediately above the shoulder 40a, and

a smaller diameter portion 84 extending for the remainder of the valvestem. Guide or bearing ribs 83 are also provided.

The depress button 36a has a hollow central supporting portion 50ahaving a lower edge or rim 68a which is cooperable with the thick upperresilient washer 80 when the button 364i is depressed as illustrated inFIG. 6. Normally, as seen in FIG. 4, the valve shoulder 40a engages thelower resilient washer 76 to close the discharge opening from themeasuring chamber 26. The supporting portion 50a of the button 36a has askirt portion 50b which is spaced from the small diameter 1 stem portion84 and which slidably fits into the upwardly drifted edge 48 of themounting cup 12. The small diameter stem portion 84 is gripped by aclose fitting bore in the portion 50a, said bore having a plurality ofgrooves 86 as seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The button 36a also has adischarge channel portion 62a. The space between the skirt 50b of thebutton and the small diameter portion 84 of the stem 28a is arranged tohave a total cross sectional area which is roughly the equivalent of thedischarge channel 62a in the button, and this same is true of the fourgrooves 86 provided in the portion 501:. Thus, the entire dischargechannel means is generally of uniform cross sectional area and is devoidof any enlarge ments which might function as an expansion chamber. Aswith the construction of FIGS. 1-3, I have found that no expansionchamber is necessary in order to provide a satisfactory spray dischargewhen the button 36a is depressed, and I attribute this to theappreciable length of the discharge channel provided by the channelportions 62a, 86 and the space between the skirt 50b and the smalldiameter portion 54 of the valve stem.

It will be observed from an inspection of FIG. 6, that when the button36 is pushed downward, the communication which normally existed betweenthe metering chamber 26 and the interior of the aerosol container 16will be discontinued and instead of the metering chamber 26 will be opento the discharge channel by virtue of the large diameter portion 82being disposed below the sealing or valve washer 76. Thus, the meteringaction is generally similar to that already described in connection withFIGS. I3, and which is in general well understood in the art.

As with the construction of FIGS. 1-3, a sequential valving action isefiected when the button 36a and the valve stem 28a are depressed. Thebottom rim surface 68a of the skirt or mounting portion Sila engages thethick upper washer 8b and compresses the same prior to the ribbedportion of the stem passing the lower washer 76 to open the passage atthe top of the metering chamber 26. 1

The sequential valve operation in FIGS. 4 and 6 is essentially effectedby virtue of the thickness of the upper washer 80, which may beappreciably compressed by the skirt portion 50b of the depress button,to effect the opening of the valve at the lower washer 76.

Preferably, the valve stem 28a has a plurality of ribs ing portion 50bwith an enlarged bore 98 to frictionally receive and grip the upperextremity portion of the valve stem 28b. On the upper slotted portion ofthe valve stem there is provided a relatively thick resilient washer 190made of rubber or rubber-like substance, said washer being engageablewith the lower surface of the mounting portion 50b and also with theupwardly drifted flange or edge 48b of the mounting cup 96. Engagementbetween the flange 48b and the washer occurs prior to the bottom end ofthe groove 90 arriving at the lower face of the valve washer 92.Continued downward movement of the button 36b and stem 28b will noweflect a compression or squashing of the resilient washer 100, and willdispose the bottom end of the groove 90 below the underface of the valvewasher 92, whereby the upper valve will be opened and the dischargechannel completely closed, to effect discharge of the aerosol substancefrom the orifice member 64b. The metering action of the valveconstruction of FIG. 7 is similar to that already described inconnection with the preceding figures, such metering action involving asequential operation of the lower valve of the valve stem and the valvecomprising the shoulder 40b (corresponding to the shoulders 40 and 40arespectively in FIGS. 1 and 4).

It will now be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a novel andimproved, simplified metering valve construction wherein the depressbutton has an operable sealing function, wherein a soft or smooth actionof the valve stem is obtained by virtue of the bifurcated lowerextremity portion of the stern, and wherein the discharge passageprovided for the metering chamber contents is devoid of enlargementswhich might constitute expansion chambers, instead being ofsubstantially uniform cross sectional area throughout its length. Thevalve construction involves relatively few components which may beeconomically fabricated and assembled. This construction is simple andreliable in its operation, and capable of an extended useful life.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims,and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In an aerosol valve construction, in combination:

(a) a valve housing having an upper annular valve seat,

(b) a valve stem movable in the valve seat and having an enlargementcooperable with the seat to close the passage therethrough,

(c) said stern having a portion of reduced cross section above theenlargement to permit passage of aerosol substance through the seat whenthe stem is shifted downward,

(d) a depress button comprising a head enlargement carried by the stemto effect downward movement thereof,

(e) said head enlargement having a discharge passage through it, and

(f) a pair of cooperable mutually engageable normally separated conduitmeans connected respectively with the depress button and annular valveseat, providing a continuous passage surrounding portions of the stemlocated above the said enlargement and also located between the seat andthe discharge passage of the button when the button and the valve stemare in downwardly shifted position, thereby to conduct the contents ofthe valve housing out through the passage in the button, both of saidconduit means extending completely around and encompassing at least partof the portion of reduced cross section of the valve stem, one of saidconduit means being resilient and yielding when engaged under pressureby the other.

2. A valve construction as in claim 1, wherein the said cooperable,normally separated conduit means comprises:

(a) a resilient sleeve surrounding the valve stem,

joined to the valve seat and extending upward therefrom,

(b) an annular edge on the depress button engageable with one end of theresilient sleeve and compressing the latter longitudinally when thedepress button and valve stem are shifted downward.

3. A valve construction as in claim2, wherein:

(a) the resilient sleeve and the valve seat are integral with each otherand constituted as a one-piece moldmg.

4. A valve construction as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) there are confining means surrounding a portion of the resilientsleeve, to limit outward bulging of the same when it is compressedlongitudinally.

5. A valve construction as in claim 1, wherein the said cooperable,normally separated conduit means comprises:

(a) a resilient sleeve surrounding the valve stem,

(b) an annular edge on the depress button, engageable with one side ofthe resilient washer, and

(c) an annular edge fixed with respect to the valve seat and engageablewith the opposite side of the resilient washer.

6. A valve construction as in claim 5, wherein:

(a) there is a mounting cup which clamps the valve seat to the valvehousing, a (b the said fixed annular edge iscarried by the mountrng cup.

7. A valve construction as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the valve stem portion of reduced diameterhas a longitudinal groovein it, reducing the cross sectional area.

8. A valve construction as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the normally separated means comprise tubular elements which becomeengaged prior to the portion of reduced diameter of the stem passingentirely through the valve seat and opening the passage thereof upon thedownward shifting of the valve stem.

9. A valve construction as in claim 1, wherein the said cooperable,normally separated conduit means comprises:

(a) a resilient washer surrounding the valve stem and disposed above thevalve seat,

(b) an annular edge on the depress button, engageable with the topsurface of the resilient washer when the depress button and valve stemare shifted downward.

10. A valve construction as in claim 9, wherein:

(a) the resilient washer is disposed adjacent and above the valve seat,

(b) there is a rigid washer interposed between the valve seat andresilient washer.

11. A valve construction as in claim 10, wherein:

(a) there are means clamping the resilient washer,

rigid washer, and the valve seat in superposed relation.

12. A valve construction as in claim 11, wherein:

(a) the clamping means comprises a mounting cup which also mounts thevalve housing.

V (c) said stem having a bifurcated lower end portion 5 7 8 13. In anaerosol valve construction, in combination: I 14. An aerosol valveconstruction as in claim 13, (a) a valve housing having a lower annularvalve seat, Wheffilni V (b) a valve stem movable in the housing and intothe the annular Valve Seat Q p an Integral P of the valve housing andhas a thin section to enable it to have resilience, said seat andhousing being molded of plastic substance.

valve seat,

receivable in and closely fitting the valve seat,

( Said bifurcated end Portion comprising Slender References Cited in thefile of this patent tines which have resilience and enable the end por-UNITED STATES PATENTS tion to yield slightly in a. diametric directionto 10 y minimize binding of the stem in the seat and pro- "1323' g videInstead a smooth action despite the said close Meshberg Jan 19613,003,662 Meshberg Oct. 10, 1961

1. IN AN AEROSOL VALVE CONSTRUCTION, IN COMBINATION: (A) A VALVE HOUSINGHAVING AN UPPER ANNULAR VALVE SEAT, (B) A VALVE STEM MOVABLE IN THEVALVE SEAT AND HAVING AN ENLARGEMENT COOPERABLE WITH THE SEAT TO CLOSETHE PASSAGE THERETHROUGH, (C) SAID STEM HAVING A PORTION OF REDUCEDCROSS SECTION ABOVE THE ENLARGEMENT TO PERMIT PASSAGE OF AEROSOLSUBSTANCE THROUGH THE SEAT WHEN THE STEM IS SHIFTED DOWNWARD, (D) ADEPRESS BUTTON COMPRISING A HEAD ENLARGEMENT CARRIED BY THE STEM TOEFFECT DOWNWARD MOVEMENT THEREOF, (E) SAID HEAD ENLARGEMENT HAVING ADISCHARGE PASSAGE THROUGH IT, AND (F) A PAIR OF COOPERABLE MUTUALLYENGAGEABLE NORMALLY SEPARATED CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY WITHTHE DEPRESS BUTTON AND ANNULAR VALVE SEAT, PROVIDING A CONTINUOUSPASSAGE SURROUNDING PORTIONS OF THE STEM LOCATED ABOVE THE SAIDENLARGEMENT AND ALSO LOCATED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE DISCHARGE PASSAGEOF THE BUTTON WHEN THE BUTTON AND THE VALVE STEM ARE IN DOWNWARDLYSHIFTED POSITION, THEREBY TO CONDUCT THE CONTENTS OF THE VALVE HOUSINGOUT THROUGH THE PASSAGE IN THE BUTTON, BOTH OF SAID CONDUIT MEANSEXTENDING COMPLETELY AROUND AND ENCOMPASSING AT LEAST PART OF THEPORTION OF REDUCED CROSS SECTION OF THE VALVE STEM, ONE OF SAID CONDUITMEANS BEING RESILIENT AND YIELDING WHEN ENGAGED UNDER PRESSURE BY THEOTHER.